Portable kiln



Dec. 15, 1953 F. w. FUGER 2,662,263

PORTABLE KILN Filed April 30, 1952 I mmnmuunnmumn UEIEJEIEIEIEIEJEJEIEIEI cmmucmummmmu u m FREDERICK w- F GER ATTORNEY urns Patented Dec. 15, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PQRTABLE KILN Fmderick'W. Fuger, Grosse Pointe, .Mich.

AmllicationAprilfifl, 1352, Serial N0.285,'205- 2 Claims.

The object ofmy improvement :is to produce a kiln suitable for firing small objects such as fi urines, trays, vases, etc. The kilns contemplated by me are to be small and portable, that is, adapted to be transferred from place to place as required.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide a kiln composed of two units, namely, a base which is provided with means to produce heat needed for firing and a removable dome fitting over the base.

A further object of my improvement is to produce a dome of suitable clay while in a plastic condition and to have it fired into a monolithic structure preferably by the same heat-producing means which are to be utilized in firing any objects within the dome resting on said base.

Finally, my object is to provide a kiln of simple construction, economical in cost and fully practical for the purposes above specified.

I shall now describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of my kiln including a base and a removable dome resting thereon;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the dome on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the base of the kiln on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the base on line 5-4 of Fig. 1, the view disclosing the location of heat-producing means within said base;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view reduced in size of the dome as it appears from outside.

Similar numerals refer to throughout the several views.

The kiln shown in the drawings is circular in shape. While this is a preferred form thereof, it is not critical and may be modified as desired. The base, which is generally identified by numeral Ill, may be made of a suitable refractory concrete and is provided with a centrally-located well I I which is open at the top.

Disposed within the well, in a spaced relation to its bottom I2, is a ring-shaped gas burner l3 made of a pipe provided with a plurality of holes It for release of a gaseous fuel to be supplied from an outside source by a pipe l5.

Resting upon the rim portion it of the well is a grating items which are to be fired within the kiln. A duct for intake of air from outside the base to sustain burning of fuel within the kiln is marked 18.

At the top the base is of a reduced diameter,

similar parts n I! afiording means for support of r resulting in the formation ofa thin annularwall l9 and of an outwardly-disposed ledge 20.

Now I shall refer to the dome or cover, generally identified by numeral 2|. The dome, made in the form of a shell, is open at the bottom, the diameter of said shell at the bottom being substantially equal to that of the base. The wall of the dome at the bottom is of a thickness permitting said dome to rest on ledge 28, while the annular wall l9 at the top of base I!) fits snugly into the interior of said dome, as best shown in Fig. l.

A member of this type may be produced on a potters wheel, shaped upon a dome-shaped form, or may be made by means of a mold of a suitable plastic material.

Once fired the dome is to be dried and dehydrated by application of heat from such source as infra-red lights, whereupon the dome ma be fired or baked into a hard monolithic structure.

The dome shown in the drawing is provided on its inner surface with vertical ribs 22 for the purpose of imparting to the structure greater rigidity while it is still in its plastic condition and a greater strength in its finished stage. The feature, however, is only suggestive and not indispensible.

Located within the top of the dome is a fiue 23 to provide an outlet for combustion gases generated within the base portion of the kiln.

Two lateral ears 24 serve as means to support the dome manually while it is being seated upon said ledge 20 or to remove the dome from the base.

In order that the progress of firing objects within the dome may be viewed from outside while the dome is seated upon base 10, I have provided said dome with a window 25, the window being set in the wall of the dome preferably close to its bottom, as shown in the drawing.

Once the dome has been dried to acquire sufiicient rigidity for safe handling, the objects to be fired may be placed upon the grating ll, whereupon gas may be ignited at the burner I3 and dome 2! may be placed upon ledge 20, as shown in Fig. l. The heat which is required to bake the objects Within the dome will also fire the body of the dome itself. When the objects within the kiln are to be removed therefrom, the dome is simply lifted off by means of said cars 24 to permit access to said objects.

After the dome has been baked into a stonelike consistence by the first firing of the objects within said dome, the kiln as a Whole may be used time and again to fire other objects.

After having described my improvement, what I wish to claim is as follows:

1. A portable kiln comprising a base provided with a well therein, the well being open at the top, a heat-producing unit within the Well, a grating resting upon parts of the base at a level above the heat-producing unit, an air duct below said unit to admit air from outside the base, a dome of monolithic construction to fit over and to be supported by the top of the base, and a flue within the top of the dome to release combustion gases from within said dome, said dome being adapted to be lifted from the top of the base when desired.

2. A portable kiln comprising a circular base provided with a centrally-located well, a source of heat within the well, a duct to supply air from outside the base to said well, a grating over said source of heat, the grating being supported by a rim portion of the well, the upper portion of the base forming an annular wall of a reduced diam- 4 eter, leaving a horizontal ledge thereabout, a shell-like dome of monolithic construction, the dome hving a bottom resting on said ledge, and encircling said wall, and a flue at the top of the dome to release gases from within the kiln, the dome being removable from said base for placing objects to be fired within the kiln and for removal of said objects after firing.-

FREDERICK W. FUGER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 891,946 McKissick June 30, 1908 1,702,942 Hauman Feb. 19, 1929 1,710,558 Ward Apr. 23, 1929 2,097,620 Harris Nov. 2, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 240,177 Great Britain Sept. 18, 1925 

